Washington DC, 1973. Elizabeth Holtzman (D-New York) during Watergate hearings. A break in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex on June 17, 1972 results in one of the biggest political scandals the US government has ever seen. Effects of the scandal ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, on August 9, 1974, the first and only resignation of any U.S. President.